With this self-contained and comprehensive text, students and researchers will gain a detailed understanding of the fundamental aspects of the hydrodynamic control of wave energy converters. Such control is necessary to maximise energy capture for a given device configuration and plays a major role in efforts to make wave energy economic. Covering a wide range of disciplines, the reader is taken from the mathematical and technical fundamentals, through the main pillars of wave energy hydrodynamic control, right through to state-of-the-art algorithms for hydrodynamic control. The various operating principles of wave energy converters are exposed and the unique aspects of the hydrodynamic control problem highlighted, with a variety of potential solutions discussed. Supporting material on wave forecasting and the interaction of the hydrodynamic control problem with other aspects of wave energy device optimisation, such as device geometry optimisation and optimal device array layout, is also provided.

Numerical Modelling of Wave Energy Converters: State-of-the Art Techniques for Single WEC and Converter Arrays presents all the information and techniques required for the numerical modelling of a wave energy converter together with a comparative review of the different available techniques. The authors provide clear details on the subject and guidance on its use for WEC design, covering topics such as boundary element methods, frequency domain models, spectral domain models, time domain models, non linear potential flow models, CFD models, semi analytical models, phase resolving wave propagation models, phase averaging wave propagation models, parametric design and control optimization, mean annual energy yield, hydrodynamic loads assessment, and environmental impact assessment. Each chapter starts by defining the fundamental principles underlying the numerical modelling technique and finishes with a discussion of the technique’s limitations and a summary of the main points in the chapter. The contents of the chapters are not limited to a description of the mathematics, but also include details and discussion of the current available tools, examples available in the literature, and verification, validation, and computational requirements. In this way, the key points of each modelling technique can be identified without having to get deeply involved in the mathematical representation that is at the core of each chapter. The book is separated into four parts. The first two parts deal with modelling single wave energy converters; the third part considers the modelling of arrays; and the final part looks at the application of the different modelling techniques to the four most common uses of numerical models. It is ideal for graduate engineers and scientists interested in numerical modelling of wave energy converters, and decision-makers who must review different modelling techniques and assess their suitability and output. Consolidates in one volume information and techniques for the numerical modelling of wave energy converters and converter arrays, which has, up until now, been spread around multiple academic journals and conference proceedings making it difficult to access Presents a comparative review of the different numerical modelling techniques applied to wave energy converters, discussing their limitations, current available tools, examples, and verification, validation, and computational requirements Includes practical examples and simulations available for download at the book’s companion website Identifies key points of each modelling technique without getting deeply involved in the mathematical representation

"Designing offshore wave energy converters (WEC) devices requires a thorough understanding of many aspects of science and engineering, namely wave hydrodynamics, wave-WEC interactions, mechanical design aspects, analysis tools, and good experience in conducting experiments. This book provides the tools for understanding these complex systems and addresses the basic concepts of WECs through to detailed analysis and design. A few devices developed and experimentally investigated are discussed in detail, some of which are considered highly novel and still in the preliminary stages of study in the existing literature. Features: Offers numerous detailed design methods and practical model studies Presents analysis of the dynamic response behavior of WECs, based upon experimental studies on scale models Covers the most recent and novel innovations in the field Includes discussion of offshore wind farms as another green energy alternative, and examines their conceptual development and design This book serves as a useful guide for both academicians and offshore practicing professionals in naval architecture and offshore engineering, as well as civil and structural engineering. In addition, it also helps in understanding structural behavior in terms of its risk criteria, efficiency, service life, and reliability. Readers will gain comprehensive knowledge about the design and development of offshore wave energy devices and the preliminary design of offshore wind turbines, which are currently largely absent in the scientific literature"--

Designing offshore wave energy converter (WEC) devices requires a thorough understanding of many aspects of science and engineering, namely, wave hydrodynamics, wave-WEC interactions, mechanical design, analysis tools, and conducting experiments. This book provides the tools for understanding these complex systems and addresses the basic concepts of WECs through detailed analysis and design. A few devices developed and experimentally investigated are discussed in detail, some of which are considered highly novel and still in the preliminary stages of study in the existing literature. FEATURES Offers numerous detailed design methods and practical model studies Presents analysis of the dynamic response behavior of WECs based on experimental studies on scale models Covers the most recent and novel innovations in the field Includes a discussion of offshore wind farms as a green energy alternative and examines their conceptual development and design This book serves as a useful guide for both academicians and professionals in naval architecture and offshore engineering as well as in civil and structural engineering. In addition, it helps in the understanding of structural behavior in terms of risk criteria, efficiency, service life, and reliability. Readers will gain a comprehensive knowledge of the design and development of offshore wave energy devices and the preliminary design of offshore wind turbines, which are currently largely absent in the scientific literature.

Wave energy, together with other renewable energy resources is expected to provide a small but significant proportion of future energy requirements without adding to pollution and global warming. This practical and concise reference considers alternative application methods, explains the concepts behind wave energy conversion and investigates wave power activities across the globe. Explores the potential of using the power generated by waves as a natural energy resource Considers the power transfer systems needed to do this, and looks at the environmental impacts

The authors of this timely reference provide an updated and global view on ocean wave energy conversion – and they do so for wave energy developers as well as for students and professors. The book is orientated to the practical solutions that this new industry has found so far and the problems that any device needs to face. It describes the actual principles applied to machines that convert wave power to electricity and examines state-of-the-art modern systems.

The waves that animate the surface of the oceans represent a deposit of renewable energy that for the most part is still unexploited today. This is not for lack of effort, as for more than two hundred years inventors, researchers and engineers have struggled to develop processes and systems to recover the energy of the waves. While all of these efforts have failed to converge towards a satisfactory technological solution, the result is a rich scientific and technical literature as well as extensive and varied feedback from experience. For the uninitiated, this abundance is an obstacle. In order to facilitate familiarization with the subject, we propose in this work a summary of the state of knowledge on the potential of wave energy as well as on the processes and technologies of its recovery (wave energy converters). In particular, we focus on the problem of positioning wave energy in the electricity market, the development of wave energy conversion technologies from a historical perspective, and finally the energy performance of the devices. This work is aimed at students, researchers, developers, industry professionals and decision makers who wish to acquire a global perspective and the necessary tools to understand the field. Reviews the state of knowledge and developments on wave energy recovery Presents the history of wave energy recovery Classifies the various systems for recovering this type of energy